First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM January 2009

Transcription

1 First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM January 2009

2 Joint Communion The new year will start with a joint communion service with the Spanish-speaking congregation, Iglesia del Pueblo, which meets in our church every Sunday. The communion service will be led by Rev. Al Kissling and Rev Wayne Hawkins, their pastor. This will not be the first joint service held here. Earlier, the first baptism of Iglesia del Pueblo was celebrated in a combined service with First Presbyterian, both congregations experiencing the open unity of diverse people worshipping as the one body of Christ. The Spanish-speaking congregation meets in our theater in Reeves hall and makes use of many of our programs, particularly the Salt & Light activity which meets a wide variety of their needs. Rev Hawkins says The Salt & Light program on Wednesdays provided the setting where adults and parents could study for their GED while their children played and attended classes. At 6:00 PM we could all join together to eat and have fellowship. Connections between our two congregations grew tremendously as a result. Some of our children have developed a strong sense of belonging as a result of Salt & Light. We have several who remind their parents and the pastor that they have to be at rehearsal to prepare for special musical programs. The initiative is coming from them, which means that their participation and ownership of church involvement have taken hold. Their connection to staff and the church has grown greatly. Some of our families live on the very edge of survival, a fact not missed by the Deacons and others in your congregation. Food supplies and furniture have meant the difference between going hungry and staying healthy, or sleeping on a good bed instead of the floor. Others in our congregation are feeling enough ownership to start inviting others to church, and that is having an impact on attendance at the Iglesia. We finish the year with a deep feeling of appreciation for First Presbyterian Church and are sure that 2009 will be a year of consolidation and growth. Step by step two very different congregations are becoming one. For this we are grateful! Olga and I feel genuinely supported by all of you, and that generates an awareness that we are family. 2

3 Church Decorations A group of about two dozen people, some from as far away as Waco, TX, met at the church on November 29 to decorate the sanctuary for the advent season. Numerous large boxes were trucked over from the garage, unpacked, and the contents distributed around the sanctuary under the direction of Mariann Novak. The nativity scene was placed in a new location on a platform created by Jon Daniels over the east door to the choir room. Trees were assembled and placed in the choir loft. Alice Cooper s Chrismons were placed on a tree in the narthex. A new addition this year was a collection of many large gold bows created by Mariann. For Christmas Sunday, a carpet of white poinsettias was added. Progressive Dinner The InBetweeners organized a church progressive dinner on the night of December 6. About seven hosts furnished a house, an entree, and assigned side dishes to some of the up to eight people who were guests. After a pleasant time eating all that food, the individual groups came together at the church for a wide variety of desserts before an evening of entertainment. Mel Parish started the evening off with a humorous Christmas story. Arnold McMillan then led the group in a variety of Christmas songs accompanied by Howard Smolleck Watkins Hall was decorated and the activity planned by Judith Ames, Marjorie Burr, and Collette Walz. Christmas Cantata Christmas week got off to an unusually good start with a worship service built around the Christmas Cantata, And This Shall Be a Sign. The Christmas story was told in words, music, and song. Kelly Temple put together a 24-member orchestra, almost 40 choir members, and a dozen narrators to present a fitting musical introduction to Christmas. It took a lot of talent to provide a smooth transition between narration and music. The orchestra with limited practice fitted solid and varied sounds between the low notes provided by the 3

4 timpani and the high notes provided by the triangle. The choir provided the soloists, melody, and harmony which the congregation has come to expect. There is a lot of unseen work which goes into a production of this magnitude. Just organizing the presentation is time consuming. It is difficult to calculate the personhours of practice required. Just to place the six extra microphones needed takes effort, as does the sound board and recording work. Night In Bethlehem Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus birth; the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the bustle? What were the people of the times thinking, doing, selling, buying how were they living? We will never know for sure, but for a very brief moment we had an opportunity to turn back the hands of time and possibly experience a Night in Bethlehem right in our very own church. Saturday, December 20, was our second annual Night in Bethlehem and it was a wonderful experience. Watkins Hall was transformed into a bustling market place with shopkeepers of all kinds. There was an open market with various produce of the times spices, fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. The market was surrounded by various shops a wine shop, rope shop, perfume shop, mosaic shop, bakery shop, milling shop, and toy shop. Village people, wood sellers, shepherds, a census taker, and a Roman soldier augmented the bustle of shopkeepers. And let,s not forget the reason for this living scene the Holy family, tucked away in the makeshift stable. All the characters had a twofold purpose. One, they were to provide insight, to our visitors, on the crafts of the time. What was being used in that day, and how was it produced. Secondly, and most importantly, they were guiding our visitors to the stable where they had an opportunity to gaze upon the holy family (and get their picture taken at the same time). It was an incredible event. It brought true meaning to a holiday that for many 4

5 has gotten way too commercial. It allowed us actually to participate, either as a character or guest, in hands-on reflection of the true meaning of Christmas. God willing, there will be a third annual Night in Bethlehem next December. Mark it in our calendars today. If you missed this last event, you don t want to miss it again. Better yet, plan on participating in it. The more you give the more you receive. Presbyterian Women To those of you who attended the program Beyond Borders on Sunday September 28th, thank you for your interest. To those of you who did not have the opportunity or would like to ask more questions and see more pictures please join the women on January 19th at 9:30 AM in the library. Attendance is not limited to women. It is open to all who are interested. Judy Kemper and Ann Blakely will be our speakers. They will show you pictures and tell you stories about the activities of the Border Ministries. Judy and Ann were part of a 22-woman group of Presbyterian Women from across the nation who visited mission facilities on both sides of the border. While in Juarez the group was hosted by members of the Border Ministries. The group was housed and fed in a Border Ministries secured facility. At this location they had the opportunity to interview several women who were employed in the Maquiladora system. They also shared in worship services. The women spent time in areas in the city as well as in the outskirts visiting facilities that work with and support programs that help children and adults. The women of our circles in Las Cruces have been involved in helping and supporting some of the mission projects such as the Anapra Colonia and Hands of Luke. Judy and Ann will also speak on the effects of immigration, both legal and illegal, on both sides of the border. Deacon s Christmas Baskets As usual, the deacons of First Presbyterian Church organized, purchased food to disperse to families through Hospice with distribution taking place on December 21. Ten baskets were distributed to families, including three families from our Iglesia del 5

6 Pueblo. A single mother with three children will have a joyous Christmas celebration. A single father with two daughters will enjoy a happy and festive day around the Christmas tree of a neighbor. Another mother and her three children, separated from the father who had to return to Mexico, will be comforted by tangible expressions of love. We delivered two big boxes of food, each weighing more than 50 pounds, to each family. In them we placed canned goods, and other nonperishables such as rice, macaroni, flower, sugar, cereal and a big box of oatmeal. We added a frozen ham and a frozen turkey along with 4 dozen eggs, cheese, a gallon of milk, and a big tub of butter. We also put in lots of hot dogs, bologna, potatoes, carrots, and onions. So we rejoice this Christmas at the little signs that Christ s birth truly does bring a new reality of oneness in which God s love is fully expressed. Without each other we are incomplete. In Christ and with each other, we sense that God s presence is a tangible fact. 6

7 New Bookkeeper My name is Michelle Del Rio, and I was born and raised in Granville Ohio in Granville is a small college town that looks like RFD. It actually could have been filmed there. I was educated at Central Ohio technical college (COTC) Newark, Ohio. I received an Associates Degree in accounting and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, honors Society. I also achieved a certificate of proficiency in secretary/stenographer program at Southern California Regional Occupational Center, I also went to Dona Ana Community College and received a certificate in truck driving. I have always loved numbers and keeping my books in order, I started bookkeeping at the age of 14. My folks were having a discussion about the income tax and finally I asked if I could read the 7

8 paper work for the taxes. It didn t seem difficult to do, so I did my folks income tax. My dad took the taxes to his taxman and he said that the taxes were just fine, so my career was started. I have three biological children and five adopted children. My children were mostly raised in Ohio but two of them came to New Mexico to live when I came here 10 years ago. My mother lives in California and is planning to move to New Mexico as soon as she can. My hobbies are camping, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and music. I love music of any kind and opera, but I think I am a classical kind of person. I love to eat vegetables, read mystery, poetry and history books when I have time. My favorite color is purple. I went from being a bookkeeper, librarian to driving an 18-wheeler cross-country. I am very happy to be here at First Presbyterian Church, doing the thing I love to do most, being a bookkeeper. The people here are great, it is a different challenge and I m doing work for God s folks. Notes and Announcements Congregational News New address Greg and Janice Sherman Marilissa Lane Las Cruces, NM New address Robert and Janet McPherson robertmc@fastwave.biz Marsha Topley marshatopley@directv.net Staff News Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Staff meetings are held on Thursdays at 10:00 AM. Deadline for announcements going into the weekly Sunday Bulletin is 10:00 AM on Thursday mornings. Rev. Story will be out of the office till January 13. Baptisms Harmonie Achiokeng Ncheuguim, daughter of Emmanuel and Mireille Ncheuguim was baptized on Christmas Eve. Leslie Hope Nganou, daughter of Jean Bernard and Michelle Nganou and James Christopher Roegge, son of Ryan Roegge were baptized on December 28. 8

9 Communion Communion will be served on Sunday January 4 and February 1. Attendance Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec January Calendar Highlights Onate High School and Doña Ana Youth choir concert on January 5. Soup Kitchen on January 14. Sr. High Youth will go on their ski trip on January Elders Retreat on January 24 in Jones Hall. Ordination and Installation of Officers on January 25. The Cover This cross, in Hawaiian style, rests on top of the mausoleum of King Lunalilo, who died in He mausoleum, located in Honolulu, HI, is on the grounds of Kawaiala o church, which was established by missionaries who arrived in This historic church was the site of the beginning of much of modern Hawaii s history. Photographs by Alex Burr and Robert McPherson First Presbyterian Church 200 East Boutz Road Las Cruces, NM Tel (575) fpc1@zianet.com Web URL Rev. Norman Story, Pastor The Lantern is a monthly publication of First Presbyterian Church, Las Cruces, NM. Articles and photos, preferably in computer readable form are welcome, and will be used at the discretion of the publisher. For further information call or send to fpc1@zianet.com. Editor: Alex Burr Production: Linda Ramirez 9

10 P FIRST E S B Y T E R I A N 200 E. Boutz Rd. Las Cruces, NM Elder s Planning Retreat January 24 Non-Profit Org. U. S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 91 Return Service Requested Mission Statement for To minister to the members of our Church and prepare them for Christian Outreach Vision Objectives 2009: To clearly and courageously communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ to all within our reach. To develop spiritual leadership that recognizes and ministers to those in need. To develop and maintain specific ways for members to reach out and draw the community into our fellowship. To create God-centered atmosphere for worship that will attract and bind individuals, families, and youth into Christian community. 10